Casing machine



A. R. SILVA CASING MACHINE July 21, 1953 A 1 r a 7% m fi m Mm f U m MY/WA a N s a my 48 9 4 9 l 2 m I H J 2 0 m a l .1 F F lllllllll ll A. R. SILVA CASING MACHINE July 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27: 1949 INVE/V 70R A. R. SILVA CASING MACHINE July 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 27. 1949 FIG. 7.

I J3 a 57 therefor.

Patented July 21,1953

Anthony E. Silva; San Jose, Calif. Application'June 2-7, 1949, Serial No. 101,575

1 The present invention relates to container handling apparatus of the character disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 37,291; filed July 6, 1948, for Casing Machine, and it relates more particularly to a casing machine of that character for placing either bottles or cans into a case in an eificient and simple manner adaptable to high speed'bottling or canning operations. j

It is a general objectof the invention to procase is held in predetermined relation to the array of containers to be placed therein for pickup by the containers. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a casing machine of the above character in which the container feedincorporates stop means of a character which will not injure the labelsof the containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a casing machine of the above character in which the cansor containers are fed in upright'position V 9 Claims. icl. 226-14) from a' motor I3. Above the conveyor lllare a plurality-of separatingvpartitions I4 into which .vide an improved casing machine in which the r into an array corresponding to the number in a v casepand ares-then carried into the case as an array of containers is moved away from the array forming position. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of apreferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which: 1

Figure 1 is a plan view of the discharge end of e a casing machine embodying the instant invention.

V ,Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the discharge end of the machine shown in Figure l.

, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the casing I unit of theimachine showing the case in operativelrelation with respect to an array of containers'inposition'for casing.

in position with respect to an array of cans to be placed therein. V

Figure 5 is an operational view showing the operation of the containers orcans in'picking up the case from itssupport means.

' Figure 6 is a" plan view of a modified form of case transfer structure utilizing a pivotedcase supporting arm "and restraining' mechanism Figure 7 is "a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 6 with parts being broken away, and in section to show the case supporting arm in unreleased position. a

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the mechanism Figure 4 is a sectional view illustratingthe case plates 26 secured to the shaft23.

welded to the respective plates 25 and 26. V -seen most clearly in Figure 4, the axis of the shaft 23 is raised sufiiciently with respect to the four rows of containers such as cans are fed through suitable can dividingmechanism of the character disclosed in said above referred to, ap-

' plication. The casing mechanism comprises a pair of casing units or trays 2| and'22of similar construction and spaced 180 apart with'respect totheir common support shaft 23.

j The unit 2|, forexample, comprises a series of vertically arranged strips 24 (Figures 1 to 4) extendingfrom a normally horizontally disposed end p1ate'2 5 to one of a pair of transverse center V The vertical plates ,24 provide partitions which form' four pockets to receive four rows of three bottles each. The bottom of these pockets are formed by the end plate 25 and by a series of parallel rods 21 upper stretch of the conveyor 10 that when a unit or tray '2I or 22 isin horizontal position and adjacent the conveyor; it forms a smooth continuation of the upper stretch ofthe conveyor [0' and the transfer plate '28 adjacent thereto. Thus,

when a casing unit is. in its home or full cycle position, vit is in proper position to receive'four rows of three bottles each. In this position the.

weight of theunit is supported by a spring-urged latch or full cycle element 30 (Figure 3) having respective'upper and lower latch jaws engaging above andbelow the adjacent vertical plate or partition. The lower latch jaw may be provided with a suitabl'ecam. surface ,(not shown) so that the latch element can yield as the casing unit moves into its home position. The latch elementifl is connected pivotally to a. cam lever 3| pivoted'on the frame of the machine. Spring 31a connected to the lever 3| urges the latch element 30 to active position andfpositions the'cam endQof. lever 3| in operative relation to the control 34 .to-be moved thereby upon starting of a cycle of operation. a j V lnthis'position of the parts a canstop is held in inactive position to allow the rows of bottles tovbe fed onto a casing unit under the urgency of the oncoming containers on the conveyor Hl.

; This stop takesthe form of a plurality of fingers shown in Figure 6 with parts being broken'away, v

and in section to show the case supporting arm in released position. i

The machine includes a mesh belt conveyor [0 which is trained about a driving'drum1 l suitably journalled upon the frame l2 and driven 7 32 carried by a transverse shaft 33suitab1yjournalled on the frame l2 of. the machine. There are live fingers -32 spaced to engage the lower rims of the cans on the conveyor l0 when in upright position with the intermediate fingers 3'2 engaging a pair of adjacent cans of the row which are engaged with the stop fingers, as seen in Figure3. The shaft 33 at one end carries an up right-arm 34 which is connected by a link 36 with the control lever 31 for the drive mechanism of the casing trays includingthe clutch 38 (Figure 2) which is driven from the drum I I as described in said above referred to application. .As the lever 31 is rocked clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, to engage the clutch 38, the arm 34 on the shaft 33* with the stop fingers 32 thereon are also rocked clockwise to move these stop fingers to active position and prevent discharge of cans from the conveyor until the next support tray' arrives at home position.

From the above description it will be seen that after twelve cans or bottles have been fed ontothe cooperating support tray and the control lever 31 is rocked clockwise, the trays are unlocked by withdrawal of the full-cycle latch 30, the clutch 33 is engaged, and the fingers 32 are moved to active position as, shown in Figure 3, so that the trays 2| and 22 are free to rotate through 180. During the movement the tray 22 (Figure 3) will be lifted and the tray 2| moved towardv active position downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3. To enable accurate alignment of a case with respect to the array of cans or bottlesto be placed therein, a case support structure or frame is provided in connection with the active tray 2| or 22, and this structure takes the form of a three walled case support or hopper 4|, t2 and 43 suitably supported on the frame of the machine by U-shaped bracket 34 and angle brackets '45. A strap 4'! is provided at either side to connect the U-shaped bracket 44 and the respective angle brackets 45. The side case supports 4| and 13 are similar and have their upper surfaces angled with respect to the horizontal with the corners cut away or bevelled for support of a case thereon. The transverse support wall 42 is similarly cut away or bevelled at its ends to provide clearance for the corners of a case 4'5 when placed thereover as shown in Figures 3 and 4'.

'The angle of the upper edges of the case support element or walls 4| and lsplaces the left edge of a case, as shown in Figure 4, downwardly over the ends of the cooperating array of cans, while the right edge is spaced slightly thereabove so that cans can pass beneath the wall 42 and the case. The case support elements 4| to 43 are positioned with respect to the path of travel of the cooperating tray 2|, for example, such that upon counterclockwise movement of the tray 2|, as shown in Figure 1, for example, the array of cans will enterthe case as seen in Figure 5, and lift the case from its supporting structure. As the trays 2i and 22 are revolved through 180 the case with the cans therein is discharged. onto the discharge conveyor 53, as disclosed in said above referred to application, In operation, therefore, when an array of twelve cans has been fed onto the active tray- 2| or 22 and a case 46 placed over the support structure 4| to 43 therefor, the operator moves the handle 31 so that the trays 2| and 22 are rotated through 180, the active tray 22 with the array of cans thereon moves the cans into the case and then serving to lift the case from its support structure and to deliver the case bottom down onto the conveyor 43 as indicated by the case shown falling free inFigure 2 at 46a.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the delivery of the case 46 with the cans 55 therein from the active tray 2| or 22 to the conveyor 48 is assisted by means of a case supporting arm or structure which becomes effective to aid in preventing undue acceleration of the case 46 in its descent onto the conveyor 48.

The case supporting and guiding arm I, which is journalled on the shaft 23 is provided at its lower end with a lateral extension 5 la which projects across the edge of a case 46 on the case supporting walls Ali to 43 at the side thereof opposite the operator. Carried by the arm 5| and movable therewith is a latch disk 52 and a sprocket 53 around which a chain 54 carrying a weight 56 extends. The weight 56 urges the arm 5| counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 7, and the arm 5| is restrained against such movement by the engagement of a latch 5? with the latch face of the disk 52. The latch bar 5'! is slidably mounted on the frame l2 and is urged by a spring 58 to active position and has a slotted end 5'|a engaging a pin 59 carried by an upwardly extending arm 6| on the control rock shaft 33. The shaft and the slotted end 51a of the latch bar 51 has some lost motion with respect to the pin 59 to time the release of the arm 5| and thereby its engagement with the case 46 with reference to the upward travel of the active can bearing tray.

In order to temporarily engage or connect the arm 5| to the shaft 23 during its return travel so that it moves with the case being lifted from the hopper structure i3, the arm 5| carries a gravity pawl 52 pivoted thereon at 53 and adapted in the operative upper position of the arm 5| as shown in Figure 8 to engage a gear 53 fast on the shaft 23.

In operation, when the clutch drive for the shaft 23 is engagectas previously described, this is accompanied by a rocking movement of the shaft 33, and due to the lost motion in the slotted portion 51a of the latch bar 51, the tray 22 shown in active position in Figure 7 moves upwardly to position the cans 55 within the case 48 before the latch bar 5! has moved sufficiently to release the arm 5!. The arm 5| is preferably timed in its release so that it is moved counterclockwise from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8 immediately before the cans 55 on the tray22 start to lift the case 46 from the support structure ii-43 so thatthe cans, the tray and the case so, together with the arm 5|, start travelling as a unit clockwise from the position shown in Figure 8 to insure a gentle delivery of the case onto the conveyor 58. During such operation, the operator will normally assist in such gentle depositing by use of his hand on the opposite end of the case 46 from that engaged by the arm 5|. If desired, a pair of arms 5| may be provided for the respective ends of the cases.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that it is capable of variations and modifications within the scope of the claims 'appended hereto.

I claim; 7

1. In a casing machine, means including a conveyor for supplying a plurality of parallel files of containers at the discharge end of the conveyor, casing mechanism at said discharge end includinga plurality of successively active contamer supports with an active container support 1n alignment with the discharg end of the conveyor, a case support positioned above the active container support for movement of the containers on the container support into engagement within a case on the case support, a case supporting arm movably mounted on the machine and normally positioned in an inactive lower position, said arm cooperating successively with said container supports, and means for moving said case supporting arm upon initiating movement of containers on a container support into a case on said case support to engage the arm with the case and for thereafter causing movement of the containers,

the case and the arm to the case discharge position substantially as a unit.

2. In a casing machine, casing mechanism in cluding a movable container support movable through a path, a casesupport positioned above the container support along said path for movement of the containers on the container support into engagement withina case on the case support, a movable case supporting arm normally positioned in an inactive position, and means for moving said case supporting arm upon initiating I port into engagement within a case in inverted position on the case support, a movable case supporting arm normally positioned in an inactive position, means operating said container support to move the containers thereon into said case and to lift the case from the case support, and means for moving said case supporting arm upon initiating movement of containers on the container support into a case on said case support to engage the arm with the case, whereby the containers, the case and the'arm move to a case discharge position substantially as a unit.

4. In a casing machine, casing mechanism in- .cluding a movable container support for supporting an array of containers in upright position for engagement within a case in inverted position,.

a movable case supporting arm normally positioned in an inactive position, means for operating said container support to lift the containers and the case thereon and to carry them to a discharge position, and means for moving said case supporting arm upon initiation of movement of said container support to engage the arm with the bottom of the inverted case; whereby the ing successively with said container supports, and means brought into play upon initiation of movement of an active container support away from its aligned position for causing engagement of said case supporting arm with the bottom of said inverted case, whereby said container support, said containers, said case, and said arm move substantially as a unit to discharge position.

-'7. In a casing machine, means including a conveyor for supplying a plurality of parallel files of containers at the discharge end of the conveyor, casing mechanism at said discharge end including a plurality of successively active rotary container supports with an active container support in alignment with the discharge end of the conveyor, said casing mechanism being adapted to receive an array of containers in upright position from said conveyor for insertion into a case in inverted position, a case supporting arm pivotally mounted on the machine and normally positioned in an inactive position, said arm cooperating successively with said container supports, and means brought into play upon initiation of movement of a container support away from its active position for causing engagement of said case supporting arm with the bottom of said case, whereby said container support, said containers, said case, and said arm move substantially as a unit to discharge position.

'8. In a casing machine, casing mechanism inmoving said arm from said case delivering position containers, the case and the arm move to said case discharge position substantially as a unit.

5. In'a casing machine, casing mechanism including a rotary container support for engaging and supporting an array of containers in upright position for movement into a case in inverted position, a pivotally mounted case supporting arm normally positioned in an inactive position, means for operating from container support to lift the containers and the inverted case thereon, and means for moving said case supporting arm upon initiation of movement of said container support to engage the arm with the inverted case, whereby the containers, the case and the arm move to a case discharge position substantially as a unit. 2 I

6. In a casing machine, means including a conveyor for supplying a plurality of parallel files of containers at the discharge end of the conveyor, casing mechanism at said discharge end including a plurality of successively active container supports with an active container support in alignment with the discharge and of the conveyor, said active container support being adapted to receive an array of containers in upright position from said conveyor for insertion into a case in inverted position, a case supporting arm movably mounted on the machine and normally positioned in an'inactive position, said arm cooperatto said case engaging position, means for moving said container support to lift the container and the case thereon and to carry them to a discharge position, and means operated by said moving means to ei fect movement of said supporting arm with said case support and a case thereon from said case engaging position to said case delivering position.

9. In a casing'machine, casing mechanism including a rotary container support for engaging V and supporting an array of containers in upright position for movement into a case in'inv'erted position, a case supporting arm pivoted coaxially supporting arm with said case support and a case thereon from said case engaging position .to said case delivering position.

ANTHONY R. SILVA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,406 Hawthorne Oct. 16, 1917 1,821,111 Mudd Sept. 1, 1931 2,179,648 Thayer Nov. 14,1939 2,350,560 Kim-ball June 6, 1944 2,431,265 Madsen ,et a1 Nov. 13, 1947 2,527,252 Gorman Oct. 24, 1950 

